Washoe County has appointed Dr. Stephanie Woodard as its new Behavioral Health Administrator, effective October 2026. A licensed psychologist and experienced behavioral health leader, Woodard brings extensive expertise in statewide behavioral health policy, systems-level strategy and expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services.
Dr. Stephanie Woodard
Woodard previously served as Nevada’s state mental health authority and single state authority for substance use disorder treatment, prevention and recovery within the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, she worked with state policymakers, healthcare providers, community partners and criminal justice systems to advance behavioral health initiatives, including 988 crisis services, supportive housing, harm reduction and expanded substance use disorder treatment.
Her work with Nevada Medicaid also included developing initiatives to strengthen community-based behavioral health services and expand access to treatment and crisis response programs.
“We are extremely proud and excited to announce Dr. Stephanie Woodard as our new Washoe County Behavioral Health Administrator.” Assistant County Manager Ryan Gustafson said. “Her knowledge and experience will prove invaluable in this extremely important role, as Washoe County has placed an emphasis around our community health and wellbeing.”
Woodard earned her Doctor of Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium in Palo Alto, California, and completed her predoctoral internship at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System in Reno. She has taught at the University of Nevada and provided training and technical assistance to behavioral health professionals, healthcare administrators and state agencies nationwide.
She most recently served as managing principal at Bowling Business Strategies and has contributed to behavioral health research and served on state and national boards and commissions.
As Behavioral Health Administrator, Woodard will help guide Washoe County’s behavioral health efforts, building on partnerships and strategies to address the community’s mental health and substance use needs.
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